Khanna, February 19
Three students of M.A. (1st year) of A.S. College Khanna were rusticated from the college on the charges of involvement in kidnapping of a college Girl. Earlier all these students were suspended by the college following a complaint by the Grand father of the victim.

On February 10 four youths with muffled faces tried to kidnap a girl a student of B.C. A. first year studying in A S College Khanna on the railway overbridge at Samrala road. The attempt was made while the girl was going to her College at 10 A.M. when she reached near the railway overbridge four youths came in A Zen car and stopped the car in front of the Moped of the Girl. The youths tried to put the girl in the car but the girl ran away. When she raised the alarm some passersby and students reached the spot and in the meanwhile the youths sped away.

Following the attempt the victim lodged complaints to the police and the college Principal. The victim claimed that she had identified a youth who is studying in her college. Taking serious note of the incident an emergency meeting of disciplinary committee was convened under the chairmanship of the Principal of the College Mr. V. C. Sachdeva on same day. The committee decided to suspended three students allegedly involved in the case.

The committee given time of one week to appear before the committee but the students failed to do so and remain absent from the College. On February 18 the meeting of the disciplinary and advisory committee was convened in the college premise, which was attended, by Prof. Jassa Singh, Prof. S.C. Goel, Prof. Darshan Singh. Prof. R.S. Jhanji, Prof. C. D. Jain, Prof. Kamla Kumar Sharma, Prof. Sanjeev Kumar, Prof. P.J. Sharma and Prof. H.L. Behal. The meeting, presided over by Principal V.C. Sachdev decided to rusticate the students, as they had not willing to present their version on the issue. The students were banned to enter the college premises and could not get admission in the next session in the College. The College authorities informed the parents of the students about the decision. The parents of the students had accepted the decision and had withdrawn the name of these students, Mr Sanjeev Dhamija Secretary of the school told the
Ludhiana Tribune on telephone.

Mr Yoginder Sharma, President of the college management, said that the decision had been taken to maintain discipline in the college. He said stern action would be taken if any student of the College found involved in any illegal activity in future.

Following the complaint the police raided and arrested three students of M.A. First year. But police challaned all these students under Section 107/51 CrPC beside the charges of kidnapping. The police said that they had challaned them under rules 107/51 CrPC as the parents were not ready to lodge an F I R against the youths.

All these students identified as Gurjit Singh and Harjit Singh both students of M.A. 2nd year of History and Jagmit Singh of M.A. Political Science were produced in the court of S.D.M. and were released on bail.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 19
The police has registered a case against two persons for abducting a girl on the pretext of marriage. The car used in abduction has been impounded along with one of the accused.

Mr Balwinder Singh a resident of Kalyan village alleged that Kamaljit Singh of the same village had abducted his daughter Dilpreet (name changed) with the help of Amandeep Singh on the pretext of marriage.

According to him the accused had been keeping a bad eye on her daughter for a long time. Referring to information received from the residents of the village the complaint reported that Kamaljit had abducted her daughter with the help of his friend Amandeep Singh who had taken them in car (PCS 501) on February 12.

According to the complainant the girl was promised marriage by the accused. The victim family did not report the matter to police fear of insult in the society.

Doraha, February 19
The Marxist Communist Party of India
(MCPI) has condemned the recent kidnappings in Punjab and the “negligent” attitude of the authorities concerned towards the issue.

At a meeting held today, Lakhwinder Singh
Buani, district secretary of the MCPI, Ludhiana, and Jandeep Kaushal, secretary, All-India Democratic Youth Federation, said the law and order situation in the state was deteriorating by the day.

They criticised the role of the police in this context. The kidnapping and killing of Abhi Verma, a school boy, had shocked the people of the state, they said.

They alleged that the kidnappers of Abhi Verma remained in the city for 12 hours while the police remained a spectator and achieved nothing. They demanded a strict action against the criminals.

Ludhiana, February 19
The Haibowal Police today busted a fake currency racket being run from Nepal. One member of the gang was arrested. Investigations were on.

Addressing a press conference, DSP Simratpal Singh Dhindsa said a police team headed by SHO, Haibowal Gurpreet Singh nabbed Ramjas Prasad from Sabzi Mandi of the area when he was trying to circulate Rs 26,500 fake currency of the denomination of Rs 100 and Rs 50 notes.

The accused belonged to Bihar and has revealed to the police that the fake currency notes were being printed in Nepal and smuggled into Punjab via Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The note appeared real and one could make out the difference after minute observation only.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 19
The police here booked seven persons including two revenue employees under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 120B of the IPC for transferring legal rights of a piece of a land in Rohira village. The police arrested one of the accused.

The Revenue Officers Union criticised the police for registering the case against one of their members without taking the opinion of the District Magistrate as required under the law.

Anant Ali a resident of Rohira village had complained to the police that Ms Khatija and her husband Saudagar Ali had got the rights of a piece of land of 53 bighas got transferred on the basis of fake documents. Though he had been shown as one of the recipients in a Gift deed made on behalf of his father he denied to have put his signatures or thumb impression on the said documents. The SSP Sangrur on receiving the complaint directed the police to register a case. The police registered an FIR against those whose signatures appeared on the Gift deed and the report made by the patwari.

Mr Jagga Singh lambardar, Mohamad Aslam and Charan Singh witnessed the deed. Mr Akbar Ali halqa patwari and Mr Manmohan Kaushik Naib Tehsildar were also named in the FIR while Mr Balbir Singh Kanungo had since died. One of the accused Saudagar Ali has been arrested.

Criticising the action of the police in involving a revenue officer in the case Mr Gurmit Singh Nadal General Secretary of the Punjab Revenue Officers Union claimed that a case could not be registered against a revenue official without taking the opinion of the District Revenue authorities.

Referring to directions made by the Home and Law Department of the Punjab State to the state police he said, “No case could be registered against a revenue official without taking the opinion of the District Magistrate.”

Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 19
Unidentified burglars broke shutters of at least four shops here but owners of the shops reported no major loss.

Sources revealed that a group of burglars had broken the shutters of some shops near Bhagat Singh Chowk, Railway Road and Gandhi Chowk. The exact loss of the owners could not be assessed.

Mr Parveen Kumar, owner of Cattle Feed Store, informed the police that the burglars had taken away cash box from his shop. They threw the cash box near Sat Narayan Mandir after removing cash worth Rs 6,000. They also burgled into shops and showrooms of Ashoka Provision Store, Vishal Cement Store and Baby Silk Store.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the burglars had slipped towards Jandali side as a lock of a burgled shop was found lying near a chowk on this road.

Ludhiana, February 19
Reacting to the allegations of corruption levelled against him by a suspended jail superintendent, the Chief Parliamentary Secretary Jails, Mr Milkiat Singh Birmi, today said he was prepared to face any inquiry on this charge. He said that he was being falsely implicated under a conspiracy by his political opponents.

Mr Birmi claimed that there was no truth in the allegations being levelled against him. He said, “It is a conspiracy hatched by my rivals and opponents to malign my image.” He pointed out that the jail superintendent had been caught red-handed while accepting the bribe. He said, he had found during his inquiries that the suspended man was trying to force the jail inmates to sell their plots to him at throw-away prices.

Mr Birmi, who was headed for Ajnala to campaign for the party there, alleged it was a conspiracy by the Akali-BJP alliance as it wanted to defame the government. He said he would be soon meeting the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to clarify his position. He asserted that he would press for a high-level independent inquiry into the case so that all aspects were duly examined and truth was revealed.

Ludhiana, February 19
Special Judge Inderjit Kaushik has discharged Satpal Singh of Kulgehna village of Sidhwan Bet in NDPS Act. The Dehlon police had registered a case under Sections 15/25/29/61/85 of the NDPS Act against Kallu and Mohammad Bhura of Saharnpur (U.P). The police had recovered 25 bags of poppy-husk each weighing 40 kg from a truck, in the presence of DSP Dakha-Jatinder Singh Khaira, as per chargesheet filed in the court.

During investigation one of the accused allegedly made statement that out of 25 bags, 18 bags of poppy-husk were to be delivered to Satpal, according to prosecution. Thereafter, the police had arrested-Satpal also and filed a charge sheet against him.

After hearing counsel for the accused, Mr Kaushik held, ‘’ I am of the opinion that the prosecution has failed to collect evidence against the accused.”

“He was neither owner of the truck in which the said poppy husk was being taken nor he is in anyway connected with the recovery of poppy husk”.

Ludhiana, February 19
The unceremonious exit of senior bureaucrat Sanjit Sinha from the all important Home Department has sent shivers down the spine of the bureaucracy in the state.

The common refrain remains that if it can happen with Mr Sinha, considered to be a close confidant of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, it can happen with others also.

For a long time, there was a widespread feeling in the state, particularly among the Congress party workers, that the bureaucracy had become too much overbearing. And everything was being attributed to Mr Sinha's proximity to the Chief Minister.

By removing him from the high profile job of the Home Secretary, the Chief Minister has sent a clear message that once it comes to real business nobody would be too sacrosanct and indispensable to be touched.

The Chief Minister once again appears to have reasserted his image of being decisive once it comes to taking important decisions. He did it earlier also when he asserted himself to ensure that Mr S.S. Virk was appointed the Director General of Police, Punjab. He convinced the Union Home Ministry that Mr Virk's stay in Punjab was in the interest of the state and consequently chargesheet against him was dropped.

The repealing of the Water Treaties Act, at the peril of loosing his job, has also earned more accolades for the Chief Minister. Given his decisive approach in handling situations which even means punishing his own men has added to the Chief Minister's popularity.

During winter in Shimla, the greatest attraction is snowfall. It sometimes falls unannounced as it did on November 25 in 1951. It was windy the previous evening and at nightfall it started raining. Nobody could imagine that there would be snowfall at that time of the year. But the next morning witnessed heavy snowfall that had covered trees, roofs, and ground all around. Tracking all way from Summer Hill to the Ridge and then to look at the Jakhu Hill, clad in a thick mantle of snow, was a sight, unimaginable.

Then it so happened that, during my stay there for long years, I could smell snow in the air. In case the sky was overcast with clouds and at times there had been rain and sleet, snowfall was a possibility. But this process was not always followed by nature. At times it could start snowing without any warning, just as the sun starts glowing suddenly from behind the dark clouds. Once I was taking some rounds, with my friends, at the Mall in Shimla. The sky was overcast with thick clouds and the atmosphere was full of gaiety. It was as if the people were roaming about under a canopy that could protect them from rain and sleet.

When I was standing at the Scandal Point, there was a sudden onrush of white clouds in the sky. As I started the climb up the Ridge, there occurred suddenly pin-drop silence all around. By the time I reached the Ridge, in just five minutes, snowflakes started falling at a great speed and unrelenting regularity. Around the Ridge, snowflakes whirling in the spaces, created symphony that had both rhyme and rhythm. In the twinkling of an eye, so to say, countless snowflakes settled down on the roof of the library and at the turrets of the Christ Church. The trees on the slopes of the Jakhu Hill burst into snowwhite buds on their branches.

During the winter season, there were long spells of time when there was no snowfall. Towards the end of February, the schools and colleges reopened after winter vacation. That was the time for occasional snowfall that provided fun and frolic. Mostly in the evening, when there had been some sunshine during the day, snow would start melting at some places on the snow-covered paths.

During the chilly night, the small puddles of water would turn into transparent ice. Underneath the ice, the metallic road would be visible, quite clean and clear. The college-going boys would come up quite early in the morning on the Scandal Point and position themselves at strategic places. The school and college-going girls would pass, up and down, through a small stretch of road, leading from the Scandal Point to the Telegraph Office Clock. At places, on the road, there would be no snow and the unwary girls would step on the metallic road peeping through the ice. The result would be a sudden fall on the snow and the books scattered here and there. That was, in a way a clarion call, to the boys to come to the rescue of a damsel in distress. Two or three of them would rush forward to give her a helping hand to get up and also to pick up her books half sunk in the snow. The passers-by would giggle and try to avoid the ice-covered patches on the road.

The snow in Shimla is also known for creating panic among the people, if not playing havoc with life and property. The roofs give way under the heavy load of snow. Or there can appear cracks in the wooden planks of the ceiling. Water pipes can burst sometimes, uprooted electric poles rendering electricity to go haywire. I am reminded of incessant snowfall in Shimla during a period of 15 days in February, 1961. At that time, while trudging the way from Sanjauli to Gorton Castle, I had to pass through a sort of snowy tunnel, with 8-foot high snow-walls on the either side. Even the rigours of such an inclement weather could give a boost to drooping spirits. The warmth that one could get in the coffee house, where muffled heating system was no less than a boon, opened up new vistas of thoughts and feelings. It was, of course, the cup of hot coffee that cheered a lot.

Still the snows of Shimla have an uncanny grip on the minds of the people who have been to that place or long to go there. At times, however, snowfall proves to be will-o’-the-wisp.

Ludhiana, February 19
The proposal by the Punjab State Electricity (PSEB) to hike power tariff and monthly minimum charges of all categories of industrial connections, has come under attack from industry representatives.

Mr G.L. Pahwa, president and Mr Varinder Kapoor, general secretary of the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association said here today that as a result of recessionary trend and hike in prices of raw material industrial units were facing crisis and a large number of units were already on the verge of closure.

Industry was not in a position to bear additional burden by way of increase in power tariff.

Seeking intervention of the state government and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Mr Pahwa and Mr Kapoor remarked that last year also, the board had brought a proposal to jack up the power rates for industry and other categories of consumers. The industry took up the matter with the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission, which rejected the PSEB plea and ordered lowering of power rates for some categories.

Ludhiana, February 19
Suvidha, a complaint redressal mechanism, has been launched in the Ludhiana police range to sort out grievances of the people and build their confidence in the police administration. Under this new initiative, attempts have been made to redress the complaints of people in a one-day camp in a focused manner. The brain behind this novel scheme is Mr Prag Jain, DIG, Ludhiana Range, who has started this scheme in the police districts of Ludhiana, Jagraon, Khanna and Ropar.

According to Mr Jain, all pending complaints with the police are looked into at the camps and on-the-spot redressal is aimed through a process of conciliatory intervention, negotiation and counselling.

The role of the police is facilitative. Society elders and village heads are also associated to help reach a compromise.

All enquiry officers from the rank of ASI, SHO, DSP, SP and SSP are involved in the process and the presence of senior officers raises the level of confidence in the police functioning. Revenue officials also attend these camps to give expert opinion on land disputes. Legal opinion is given by the DDA.

Mr Jain says that the camp is also used as a forum for addressing other service-related demands of people like issuance of NOCs for visa application, passport verification, service verification and arms license verifications.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 19
A group of councillors opposing the chief of the local civic body has urged the Punjab Chief Minister and The DGP to provide security to the 11 councillors who had announced that they will support the no-confidence motion against the president.

Referring to the threats allegedly given by the supporters of the chief, the opposition leaders apprehended that some of the councillors might be kidnapped or implicated in some false case to keep them away on the day of voting.

Two councillors, Mr Jatinder Kumar Bhola and Mr Sham Sunder alleged that the council chief was using pressure tactics to save his chair.

Ludhiana, February 19
“The sudden demise of Sant Singh Maskeen has shocked the sangat and the constructive thinkers world over. Maskeen’s daily discourses, telecast on ETC Channel Punjabi, had a significant impact on the psyche of the masses.

His words had the requisite magic to touch the hearts of everyone. His explanations were understood by people of all walks of life.” These views expressed at an emergency meeting convened at Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle here today to mourn the death of the sant.

Dr Charan Kamal Singh, chief secretary, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, said that sant’s thought process was unparalleled among his contemporaries. His thought-provoking approach towards the explanation of basic principles of Gurbani had actually evolved a novel global standard in the field of philosophical explanation of Gurbani that shall continue to show the path of spiritual, logical and scientific explanation of the fundamentals of Gurbani. Dr Singh appealed to ETC Channel to ensure the continuity of the daily discourses of sant Maskeen in ‘Gyan Da Sagar’ for the benefit of seekers world over.

Mr Ram Singh, chief organiser, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, said that Sant Maskeen was a thorough Gursikh who had enlivened Gurbani through his lifestyle. During the 400th centenary of ‘parkash utsav’ of Guru Granth Sahib, his daily discourses on the international TV channel were instrumental in helping the masses to understand Gurbani, analysing one’s self vis-a-vis Gurbani thereby aiding in the establishment of Begumpuri World Society that was based on the scientific humanism enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Ludhiana, February 19
The Punjab Agricultural Engineers Services Association has condemned the slogan shouting, uncivilised protest and boycott of a workshop held at PAU, Ludhiana, by Agriculture Technocrats and the Plant Doctors Association (PDSA) against the appointment of Director (Agriculture) B S Sidhu.

Lashing out at the Agriculture Technocrats and the PDSA, chairman of the association Pal Mohinder Singh Walia alleged that instead of working for welfare of farmers, they were resorting to cheap gimmicks to put undue pressure on the Punjab Government for their “unjustified demands”.

President of the Assistant Agricultural Engineers Association Mr Rajan Kumar while criticising the protest rally held by the PDSA and the Agriculture Technocrats, claimed that Mr Sidhu was competent and well-qualified expert in the field.”

He claimed that Mr Sidhu would be successful in guiding farmers to bring second green revolution in the state and to tackle their problems.

Munabarpura (Ahmedgarh), February 18
The body of an Army jawan, Inderjit Singh
Tihara, who was killed in an ambush by terrorist in Meddar Sector in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14, was cremated with full state honours here yesterday.

Besides personnel from the Army, officers of the district administration and the police paid floral tributes to the soldier.

The body of Inderjit Singh was brought here by Army men on Wednesday.

A large number of locals and representatives of various organisations gathered at the cremation ground to pay tributes to the departed soul.
OC

Ludhiana, February 18
Bank employees held a protest rally against government’s decision to reduce government capital in banks, merge public sector banks, hike foreign direct investment and other policies here today.

The call was given by the All India Bank Employees Association.

Addressing the rally, which was held outside the State Bank of Patiala, Miller Ganj branch, Mr Naresh Gaur, secretary, Punjab Bank Employees Federation, said the government was pressuring banks to bring down their capital by 51 per cent to encourage private investment.

Ludhiana, February 19
A night-patrolling team of the police caught red-handed an alleged burglar who was decamping with jewellery after burgling a shop near Tajpur road at about 3.30 a.m. today.

Addressing a press conference here DSP (Industrial Area) R. K. Bakshi said ASI Joginder Singh and his team saw two burglars coming out of Shivam Jewellers shop and challenged them.

They caught one of the accused, Suresh Kumar, with a bag full of silver jewellery valued at over Rs 1.25 lakh. DSP Bakshi said raids were being conducted to nab the second accused identified later as Ram Pardari of Patiala.

There are some other gang members also.

The gang was allegedly involved in several cases of burglary in the city.

Phillaur, February 19
The Phillaur Police has nabbed five persons who had allegedly burgled 13 shops in Apra village.

DSP Kamaljit Singh Dhillon said here today that the arrested burglars were identified as Parvesh Kumar of Khanna, Balli, Sonu, Bhupinder and Kulwinder of Apra, while their three accomplices were still at large.

They were identified as Sunny of Ludhiana and Montu and Harjit of Apra village.
The DSP said Apra police post in charge Rajinder Kumar arrested the accused, while they were sharing the booty at a place in the area.

Ludhiana, February 19
Mr Shyam Bihari Misra, president, Akhil Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal, today said the traders would observe bandh on February 21 to express their resentment against the “highhanded attitude” of the government.

He was addressing a news conference here after a meeting of more than 150 trade and industrial associations to mobilise support for the protest.

Mr Misra wondered as why the Centre was so keen to introduce the new system of tax which was a state subject. He said the step is being taken at the behest of global bodies like WTO and the World Bank since the VAT system will hit small and illiterate traders while the multinational corporations, with all technology and trained manpower at their command, will be the beneficiaries.”

On the so-called success of VAT in 120 countries and further that the prices would come down under the new tax regime, he said, India being a federal state with a predominantly agricultural economy, had no comparison with the European countries. “In our country, 26 per cent people live below poverty line, 36 per cent of the traders are uneducated and a miniscule number of trade establishments use computers in routine.

Prices would go up from anything like 5 to 20 per cent, he said. Foodgrains and pulses, which were taxed only in 7 states in the country till now, would attract 4 per cent tax. The VAT regime, he added, would spare nothing and common items like cloth, salt, aerated and mineral water and jaggery would come in the tax net.

The VAT in its present form would cause harassment to tax payers and breed corruption because officials would get sweeping power he added.

Amloh, February 19
The Beopar Mandal, the Retail Karyana Merchants Association, the Swarnkar Sangh, the Chemist Association, the Hardware and Sanitary Association and the Cloth Merchants Association at a meeting chaired by Beopar Mandal, Chief Vibhishan Goel decided to participate in “Bharat bandh” on February 21 to protest against the imposition of VAT and service tax imposed on Traders. The call was given by the Bharatiya Udyog Beopar Mandal.

Ludhiana, February 19
To regularise the extra load in the tiny and small-scale sector, the PSEB is learnt to be coming out with a new Voluntary Disclosure Scheme (VDS). Sources in the PSEB said the finishing touches were being given to the draft resolution which was likely to be implemented in the beginning of the next financial year.

The sources revealed that the PSEB would offer the scheme to the small scale industrial units whose consumption had increased over the years. The board might also relax some formalities otherwise mandatory for the extension of the load. It would not impose any penalty while the load would be legalised. The sources disclosed that the mandatory pre-condition of a “no objection certificate” from the Punjab State Pollution Control Board in these cases would also be done away with.

Meanwhile, the PSEB has announced the VDS for the domestic consumers also to regularise and grant extension in the case of running load. According to a circular issued by the PSEB, domestic consumers are facing a lot of inconvenience in complying with the procedure and filling forms, submission of test reports, etc.

With the result, they are reluctant to get their actual load sanctioned. To avoid any inconvenience, the procedure of load regularisation has been simplified. This scheme will continue up to March 31, 2005. It is stated in the circular that there will be no checking of connected load during the period and also no penalty for unauthorised extension of the load will be levied.

Over 125 companies are participating in the three-day exhibition that involves participation from various industries — machine tools, pollution control, water treatment, electricals and electronics etc.

“This exhibition is being organised primarily to bridge the gap between users and manufacturers so essential the present day industrial world has become one global village,” said Dr Harish Arora, CEO, Paramount Exhibitors.

“The previous exhibitions generated business worth over Rs 200 crore. We received over 400 entries for this exhibition of which 150 were finalised,” he said.

Ludhiana, February 19
The Small Industries Development Institute will organise a month-long entrepreneurship development programme on computer repair, servicing and assembly. The inaugural function for the programme will be held on February 22 and Mr R. C. Chopra, director, SISI, will be the chief guest.

“The programme is being conducted with a view to providing employment opportunities. Besides providing knowledge about setting up of one’s own venture, the programme will equip participants with various technical details,” said Mr S. K. Senapati, deputy director, SISI.

He said the small-scale industry played a vital role in generating employment and earning foreign exchange.